Less than 10% of people who could benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it publishes its first guidance on the therapies.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.
According to forecasts, more than two billion could be living with obesity by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and ongoing support," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, constrained manufacturing, and supply-chain constraints are major hurdles to universal access to the jabs that can aid individuals in losing significant body mass, says the body.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current most optimistic scenario, the supply of these medications might only reach approximately 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The recommendation urges governments and firms to widen access, through strategies like licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the main ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is due to expire in several nations in 2026.
The Way Obesity Jabs Work
GLP-1 drugs mimick a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, suppress the appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people eat less.
Individuals commonly see weight reduction within a few weeks of starting on the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates users may put most of the weight back on after a year of halting the treatment, when their normal hunger come back.
To be carrying excess weight elevates your risk for developing diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and specific cancers.
Obesity concerns individuals in every country and was linked to 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
